The Osceola times., 1887-05-21
A GREAT ENTERPRISE.
Science Allied With Love Makes q
Useful Circuit"

John Mills, the hero of this sketch,
was n railroad engineer, and had been
for long time in the company's EN-.
ploy. When the new engine "59''
was completed and placed on the road.
John was given charge of it, and he
cvinced natural pride in his prefer.
ment. At one Of the stations there
was a young girl, telegraphic ope.
rator, between whom and the engineer
there had sprung up a warm attach.
mont, and whenever "59'' came along
Kate generally managed, to be at thf
door and exchange signals with her
lover. One day the train was detained
at the station, and the locomotive de.
tached and sent up the road to do some
additional work, and Kate went along
for ride. As she listened TO the sharp,
shrill notes Of the whistle, it occurred
TO her that she might teach John to
sound her name in the Morse tele-
graphic characters, so that she could
distinguish his signal from that of the
other engines, whenever his train ap-
preached The plan worked to a charm,
and far and near the whistle shrieked
Kate, until one day, as the operator
stepped upon the platform, she over
heard conversation between two
young men, and learned that
they understood the signal and were
laughingly wondering who Kate
could be. Their means of communica-
ton having been discovered, they were
obliged to discontinue it. In the mean
time Kate had, by means of the tcle-
graph, made the acquaintance of a
young lady in a distant city, but whom
she had never seen. and to her she had
made known the fact that that secret
had been discovered. Then her friend
suggested a plan rs brilliant as it was
ingenious. IL was simply to arrange
a means Of tclegraphic communication
between the approaching train and the
station, so as to ring bell hidden
away in the closet in Kate's Office, en-
gine "59" being the only one provided
with means of completing the circuit,
which was done by laying the
poker upon the tender brake
so as to touch the wire in passing.
Kate found an opportunity to acquaint
John with the proposed plan, and in
the meantime had found an abandoned
wire which ran for long distance close
by the track, and which she proposed
to use for carrying out her purpose.
Thanksgiving Day came soon after. and
John fortunately having holiday, he
and Kate went bravcly to work. and
before the day had ended the task was
complete success. The dramatic
finale of their little episode is told in
the following;
1t was singular how absent-minded
and inattcntive the operator was on
the day that the great scientific enter
prise was finished. No wonder
she was disturbed. Would the new
line work? Would her little battery
be strong enough for such great cir
cult? Would John be able TO close it?
The people began to assemble for the
train. The clock pointed to the hour
for its arrival.
Suddenly, with startling distinctncss,
the bell rang clear and loud in the
echoing room. With cry of delight
she put on her dainty hat and ran in
haste out upon the platform. The whis-
tie broke loud and clear on the cool.
crisp air, and "59" appeared round the
curve in the woods The splendid
monster slid swiftly up to her feet and
paused.
Perfect, John! Perfect! 1t works
TO charm"
With a spring she reached the cab,
and sat down on the fireman's seat.
blessed If could tell what he was
going to do" said the fireman. "He
told me about It. Awful bright idea!
You see. he laid the poker on the
tender-brake there, and it hit the tree
slam, and ] saw the wires touch. 1t
was just prime, y
But the happy moments sped. and
"59" groancd and slowly departed,
while Kate stood on the platform, her
face wreathed in smiles and white
steam.
So the lovers met each day, and none
knew how she was made aware Of his
approach with such absolute certainty.
Science applied TO love, or rather love
applied TO science. can move the world.
Two weeks passed, and then there
suddenly arrived at the station late one
evening special with the directors
car attached. The honorable directors
were hungry-they always are-and
would pause on their journey and take
a cup of tea and bit of supper. The
honorables and their wives and chill
dren filled the station, and the place
put on quite gala aspect. As for
Kate, she demurely sat in her den.
book in hand. and over its unread
pages admired the gay party in the
waiting-room.
Suddenly. with furious rattle, her
electric bell sprang into noisy life. Ev.
cry spark of color left her face, and her
hook fell With a dustv dan to the 6oor.